Oxford Business Park to Sponsor Carnival 2019

Arlington, owners of the Oxford Business Park, will be sponsoring the Cowley Road Carnival for 2019 for the first time.

The Carnival is the city’s, and one of the region’s, biggest community events drawing regular crowds in the region of 50,000 people and second only to Notting Hill Carnival in the country. The event received the Oxfordshire Business Award for tourism and best cultural event in 2017.

Cowley Road Works, the charity behind the organisation of the Carnival, which will be held on 7 July 2019, works year-round on a series of events and activities which engage, train and provide opportunities for individuals and groups within the community, including some of the most disadvantaged. This work culminates on Carnival Day when the Cowley Road is transformed with costumes, colour, music and food as the community comes together in one huge celebration.

Micaela Tuckwell, Executive Director of Cowley Road Works said: “We are thrilled to announce our first major sponsor for Carnival 2019. Working with Arlington, and the Oxford Business Park, will bring exciting new opportunities for us to work together to benefit the community through joint initiatives throughout the year, culminating in Carnival Day 2019 on 7 July.

“What is more, we hope that we can encourage more of the businesses at the Oxford Business Park to become involved over the coming months.

“The Carnival brings in the region of £900,000 to the area and with an audience of around 50,000 carnival-goers and hundreds of participants in the event, including many of the local schools.”

Dan Williams, Development Director at Arlington said: “The Cowley Road is a key route between Oxford Business Park and the City Centre, and we are delighted to be given the opportunity to support our local community and the Cowley Carnival through this exciting initiative”.

Carnival 2019 will have the theme ‘Space is the Place’, in commemoration of the 50th anniversary of the Moon landings in July 1969 and in celebration of Oxfordshire’s world standing in space technologies.

The Carnival also receives funding from Oxford City Council, the High Sheriff Community Integration Fund, the Patsy Wood Trust, Oxford University, and a grant of £86,000 for inclusive arts opportunities for artists of all ages with disabilities living in Oxfordshire.